A Pair of Boots

St. Maarten is an intriguing island that has a Dutch side and a French side. I lived and worked on the Dutch side for a daily newspaper. After work on a Friday, I drove over to the French side to the city of Margot to do some shopping and have dinner.

There are many colorful shops and cafes on the French side of the island. After parking my car, I strolled down the street and began window shopping. A French clothing show with a cute French girl standing in the window caught my attention. She reached down and picked up a pair of snakeskin boots with a $500 price tag on them -- and replaced the tag with one that said $259.

I hurried into the shop. The girl turned toward me and said in a perfect Parisian accent, "May I help you, Monsignor?"

I asked her about the size of the boots, which were made of Anaconda skin.

"Ten and a half," she said, smiling.

'Perfect. That's my size. And you have cut the price in half?"

She said that, indeed, was what the shop owner had decided. She glanced at her watch and added, "We are about to close for the evening. i don't wish to rush you, but it has been a long day and I have a dinner engagement --"

I waved at her, smiling. "I understand." I looked through my pockets. "Look, I only have $130 . What time do you open tomorrow?"

"Nine a.m.," she replied.

"Well, I'm a poker player. I plan on playing poker tonight at the Atlantis Casino. I am going to win enough money to buy these boots. I will be here at 9 a.m. tomorrow to claim them. Don't sell them to anyone else."

She laughed. "I admire your confidence. If you show up at 9 a.m.,with the money, the boots are yours. But I don't think the odds are in your favor." She was still smiling as I left the store.

As I headed back to my car, I thought about my plan. I had never set aside something I wished to purchase before and relied on a poker game. But the thought intrigued me. And I found myself bound and determined to win the price of those boots!

After having a marvelous dinner at a French Creole restaurant owned by a friend, I drove to the Atlantis. A game was already in progress and two seats were available. I quickly claimed my seat and bought $100 worth of chips.

Mario, the poker room manager, came by the table. He greeted all of us and grinned at me.

"You look determined," he said.

I told him I was definitely determined, but didn't provide him with the details. Instead I concentrated on the game.

At 11 p.m., I cashed in $540 worth of chips. I had a drink for the road and drove back to my cottage halfway up a rain-forest about a half mile from the ocean.

Bright and early next morning, I had breakfast and drove to the French side of St. Maarten, arriving there just a few minutes after 9 a.m. The beauty with the Parisian accent saw me and grinned.

"You are back," she said. "Did you win?"

I laid the money down on the glass counter and said, "Please wrap up my boots -- and let me take you to lunch."

She was still laughing as I left the shop, an American in paradise and the proud possessor of a pair of snakeskin boots that I still own.

Author: Geno Lawrenzi Jr.

(Geno Lawrenzi Jr. is an international journalist, magazine author and ghostwriter and poker player who lives in Phoenx, AZ. He has published 2,000 articles in 50 magazines and 125 newspapers. If you want to share a gambling story or book idea with him, send an email to glawrenzi@gmail.com ).